Wire-securing device.



J. F. SOUTHGATE.

WIRE SECURING DEVICE. APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 2, 191s.

o Patented June 9, 1914.

JOHN F. SOUTHG-ATE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

WIRE-SECURING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1914.

Application filed J'uly 2, 1913. Serial No. 776,956.

T0 all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. SOUTHGATE, a citizen of the United States, residing at lNorcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusettawhave invented a new and useful Tire-Securing Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a wire securing device of the type commonly used in securing low voltage insulated wires to wooden structures. Such devices have been heretofore used but certain difficulties have been experienced in their practical application, one of the worst of which is that no provision has been made for protecting the supported wire from contact with the wooden structure.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a wire securing device in which the wire thus secured shall be protected on all sides by the insulated material which forms a part of the device.

Further objects of my invention will appear in the description, and will be more specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawings in which- Figures 1 and 2 are end and side elevations respectively of a wire securing device; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the position of the insulating material when the device is in use; and Fig. 4 is a projection of the strip of insulating material.

A wire securing device formed in accordance with my invention consists of a metallic driven member commonly in the form of astaple or double-pointed tack 10 and a strip of insulating material 11 secured thereto. The staple, may have either a flat or round head, and as shown in Fig. 1, may be provided with a notch 12 upon the outer side of each leg. The insulating strip is provided with a perforation 13 at each end thereof, which is adapted to be pressed over a point of the staple and to be secured in one of the notches 12. When the notches are omitted the insulating material is held upon the staple by friction only.

The strip 11 is so secured to the staple that it is in close contact with the under side of the flat upper portion 14.- of the staple and is provided with downwardly extending and reversely-folded portions 15 upon each side, the strip being secured to the staplel by the perforated ends only.

By this construction the folded portions lie closely along the inner sides of the legs but are unattached thereto and their lower ends are free to move laterally inward as they Contact with the supporting surface 16,'thus assumingthe position shown in Fig. 3 when in use. From this figure it is evident that the wire A is thoroughly protected on every side from contact with any foreign surface. This protection of the wire from the supporting sur'- face is of particular importance when the wires are run upon wooden structures which may under any circumstances become damp. In such cases it is found that local action very often occurs at the point where the staple is driven and that the wires become corroded and are easily broken in consequence thereof. With my device, a double layer of insulating material is inserted between the wire and the wood.

I am aware that many modications in my invention may be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and I do not wish to be limited to the specific structure disclosed herein, but

What I do claim is 1. A wire securing device comprising a double-pointed staple and a strip of insulating sheet material folded along lines parallel to the axis of the wire to form downwardly extending intermediate portions and upwardly and outwardly extending end portions, said strip being secured to the staple by its upper outer extremities only, said intermediate portions being free to move laterally inwardly under the wire as the staple is driven.

2. A wire securing device comprising a staple and a strip of insulating sheet material, the latter having a top portion of single thickness, side portions reversely folded along lines parallel to the axis of the wire and lying wholly within the staple and perforated outwardly-turned end portions, said insulating material being secured to the staple entirely by said end portions.

3. A wire securing device comprising a double-pointed staple having a notch in the outer side of each leg and a strip of insulating sheet material having perforated ends resting in said notches, the intermediate portion of said strip forming reverse folds extending downwardly along the inner sides of the legs and freely movable laterally inward at their lower ends.

4. A wire securing device comprising a staple and a single strip of insulating mat-erial secured by its extremities to the staple, the intermediate portions of said strip being formed in reverse depending folds which move inwardly under the wire as the staple is driven, and provide a double layer of insulation between the Wire and the surface to which it is attached.

5. A wire securing device comprising a double pointed staple, and a strip of insulating material having perforations in its ends through which the legs of the staple extend, the intermediate portion o" said strip forming reverse folds extending downwardly along the inner sides of the legs and freely movable laterally inward at their lower ends.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. SOUTHGATE. Vitnesses:

CHAS. T. HAWLEY, C. Fonnnsfr l/Vnss'oN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

